Website fonts, can they be on a server?

hibeesmad · 9 Jun 2009 at 17:20

If I use a font on a website, which is not on a visitors computer, can I place the font on the server so it is read from there?

Johnny.

tsinc80697 · 9 Jun 2009 at 17:27

Yes but it might break copyright laws of the font producer

If you put a font online then anyone can view your HTML/CSS files and grab the font which means they haven't paid for it!

Even if it is a free font you have to check before doing so

If you HAVE to use a custom font try cufon or sIFR, font replacement, otherwise use images with good alt tags

mr.sly · 9 Jun 2009 at 18:10

Check out Webfonts.info for more information. And there's an incomplete list of fonts that can legally be used as well on this page.

Also nice site tsinc80697 just checked it out.

tsinc80697 · 9 Jun 2009 at 19:18

Nice find that webfonts is!

Thanks mr.sly

Augmented · 9 Jun 2009 at 21:25

Have a look at Typekit: http://blog.typekit.com/2009/05/27/introducing-typekit/

GravyMonster · 10 Jun 2009 at 10:10

If you can I'd try and stick to web-safe fonts. I've tried to muck around with @font-face and found it's implementation iffy at best between browsers, especially on Fisher Price Speak 'n Spells* - although admittedly this was a few years ago.

What I tend to do is use sIFR for headings as they can still be H1 tags for SEO, and then use a standard font for the main copy. Using different em sizing, line-heights and letter-spacings you can make old fonts look different and more interesting.

* I believe these are also called 'Macs'